Nonskid chain



Dec. 15, 1931.

April 20, 1931 Filed Patented Dec. 15, 1931 I os PHjscnMALzL, or BETHLEHEM, rmmsnvanm j NoNsK'm, cmmv Application filed April 20, This inventionaims to provide a non-skid cross. chain for anti-skidding devices of the kin'dused on automobile tires, the constituent links of the chain being so made that they will 5 afford an efficient road-grip, be capable of long continued use, and afford a'means whereby repairs can be made readily, certain parts of the links protecting other portions of the links from wear, and also providing the aforesaid road-grip. e

A preferred form has been shown, but a chain maker, working within the scope of Whatis claimed, can make alterations in that form, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings: 7 Figure 1 shows, in section, a tire casing on which has been mounted a cross chain con- 7 structed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a top plan showing a portion of the chain; Figure 3 is a top plan showing a portion of the chain, the links having been concatenated in a manner differing slightly from the disclosure of Figure 2; Figure 4 is an elevation of one link, the fingers being spaced apart, and shown as they will appear before they are brought together to make the complete chain; Figure 5 is an elevationshowing the fingers spaced apart by bending the 350 links in a manner differing slightly from the disclosure of Figure 4. b

There is provided a metal link for non-skid cross-chains, comprising a main bar 1 provided atone end with a convexed support 2 merging into one end member 3 of the link, said end member 3 merging into a second convexed support 4 provided with a finger 5. The opposite end of the main bar 1 merges into the opposite end member 6 of the link, said opposite end member 6 of the link merginginto a third convexed support 7 provided with a finger 8. All of the said supports 2-4-7 are located in approximately the same plane A-B of Figure 4 represented by the outer surface of the tire casing 15. The fingers 5 and 8 are approximately parallel, close together, and approximately at right angles to the said plane AB. The firstspecified end member 3 curves away from the plane AB, as shown at 10, and the main issns riaiivb, 531,54sf 4 bar lslants away from said to cause the second-specified end member 6 tolslant,

as at 12, away from said plane, theaforesaid slant of the main bar being designated by the J, n on in numeral 11". L

p The, link above described is characterized bythe fact that the fingers 5 and 84 project away fromthe plane A-B, beyond all' other portions of the link, to lessen thewear on said portionsof the link, and to formfaroad-o grip i,

Thefnon-skid cross-chain embodies a. plumay of links, constructed as hereinbefore set forth, andconcatenated end [to end, as in Figure 2, the'fing'ers 8 and 5 of all ofsaid links being, arranged substantiallyiii a straight line,longitudinally of the chain.

In Figure3,parts hereinbefore described have been designated by numerals previously used,withthe sufiix"b In Figure"3, the 6 linksare concatenated endto end, as in Figure2, but thefingers"8b5b of sorne of the links aredisposed at onejside of the chain, the fingers ofothers of the, links being disi posed at the opposite side of the chain, to form two substantially straight lines of fin,- gers extended longitudinally of the chain, The operator can assemble the linksand in; Figure 2, or as in Figure 3, depending upon his,desires.' f S 0 1 The link, when open, appears as inFigure 4, and is fashioned from asi'ngle bar of material, provided at, its extremities withthefin gers '5 'and8,"which, in the completed chain, are brought close enough together to prevent g5 one linkffrom becomin detachedfaccidently from a like link,l'the fingers projecting in direction substantially atrightangles to that portion of the link whereon the link issup ported when in use. ou

As a mattenof practice, theinner edgeslof the fingers5 and 8 maybe brought into contact, as 'at 16, wherebyonefinge'r' 'will brace and reenforceflthe otherifi "f Q V H The linkin its open form,shown Q5 4, may be used as a'repaiilinki:1or, if the op erator prefers, he canformthe link, eitheras' a repair link, or as a-link in thefcoiriplete' chain,as disclosed in Figure 5. lnEigu e 5,; parts hereinbefore described havebeen desi nated by numerals previously used, with the suflix a. The part 4a of the link is bent upwardly, and the space between the fingers 8a and 5a is such that when the link is used on the road, the pressure of the surface of the road on the finger 5a will bring it down into the position of the finger 5 of Figure 1.

As the vehicle wheels turn, one line of fingers 5-8 in Figure 2, or two lines of fingers 56-86 in Figure 3, in each cross-chain, will come into contact with the roadway and afford a sure, non-skid grip; and because the fingers project as hereinbefore specified, wear .on the links will be confined largely to the fingers, the wear on the remaining portions of each link being cut down. The link is made of a good grade of metal, preferably steel, and the fingers 5 and 8 do not tend to bend or broom out at their ends. Rather, they wear away evenly and fairly, and may be described as being self-sharpening.

' ber curving away from said plane,

Any known means 1& may be provided for holding the cross-chain on the tire casing 15, as in figure 1.

Having thus is claimed is:

1. A link for non-skid cross-chains, com prising a main bar provided at one end with a converted support merging into one end member of the link, said end member merging into a second convexed support provided with a finger, the opposite end of the main bar merging into the opposite end member of the link, said opposite end member of the link merging into a third conveXed support provided with a finger,'all of said supports being located at approximately the same plane, the fingers being approximately parallel, close together, and approximately at right angles to said plane, the first-specified end memand the main bar slanting awav from said plane, to cause the second-specified end member to slant away from said plane.

2. The link for non-skid cross-chains of claim 1, further characterized by the fact that the fingers project away from said plane, beyond all other portions of the link, to lessen the wear on said portions of the link, and to form a road-grip.

3. A non-skid cross-chain embodying a plurality of links, constructed as set forth in claim 1, and concatenated end to end, the fingers of all of said links being arranged substantially in a straight-line, longitudinaldescribed the invention, what ly of the chain.

4. A non-skid cross-chain embodying a plurality of links constructed as set forth in claim 1, and concatenated end to end, the fingers of some of the links being disposed at one side of the chain, and the fingers of others of the links being disposed at the opposite side of the chain, to form two substantially straight lines of fingers extended longitudinally of the chain.

5. A substantially O-shaped link for nonskid cross-chains, fashioned from a single bar of material, the bar being provided at its ends with fingers located at one side of the link and intermediate the ends of the link, the fingers being located closely enough together to hold one link concatenated with another link, the link having three points of support, two of which are located below and closely adjacent to the fingers, the third point of support being located at the opposite side of the link and closely adjacent to one end of the link, the fingers being disposed substantially at right angles to the plane formed by said three points of support.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

JOSEPH SCHMALZL. 

